Although he is still recovering from a fractured left foot, Yao's agent said he will join the national team in early July to prepare for August's World Championships in Japan.

NBA Rocket centre Yao Ming returned his home in Shanghai, China on Wednesday evening.[xinhuanet.com]

"He has made significant progress in his recovery from foot surgery and Yao himself expects to return to national team as soon as possible," said Zhang Mingji, director of Yao's agent team.

"He will take some days at home and join the national team in early July."

Yao, a 7-foot-6 centre for the Houston Rockets, will start exercising soon but his hope of playing in the Worlds is still dim.

Yao suffered the foot fracture in his team's 85-83 loss to the Utah Jazz on April 11, when he was fouled by Andrei Kirilenko, who stepped on Yao's foot as he scored a first-quarter basket on a rebound.

He then underwent foot surgery the same week in the United States and doctors suggested he would be sidelined for an estimated six months and miss out on the Worlds on August 19.

"His injury is yet to heal up but his recovery is much faster that we expected," said Zhang.

"Now, his doctor believes he will be ready for full-time training and be able to play by around August 1 if his condition goes well."

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